The Clash, Dolly Parton, and 'Return of the Mack': What 2020 Democrats' walk-on music says about their campaigns
The good, the bad, and the trying way too hard
On Sunday, the crowded field of Democratic presidential nominees gathered in Cedar Rapids for the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame. Each candidate in attendance was given five minutes to make their case to caucus-goers, in what turned out to be a somewhat un-newsworthy event. However, getting to the real soul of the matter, Time's Lissandra Villa helpfully reported the songs that each 2020 hopeful played as they made their way to the stage.
Here's what the candidates' picks for their walk-on music says about their campaigns.
Cory Booker - "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Booker already possesses a cool factor that other candidates are still desperately trying to cultivate (see below), so he eschews a modern track for the sunny optimism of soul legend Bill Withers. With this throwback, Booker both pays homage to his roots and shows his interest in courting an older, blacker crowd to his base.
Pete Buttigieg - "High Hopes" by Panic! at the Disco
Since April, Buttigieg has walked out to this fanfare, although reports are unconfirmed if his selection changed for yesterday's event. Brendon Urie, the frontman and last remaining original member of Panic! at the Disco, came out as pansexual last year and recently starred in a rainbow-themed music video with Taylor Swift. In a race with a lot of firsts for diversity, Buttigieg looks to align himself with the historic LGBTQ nature of his candidacy.
Bill De Blasio - "Rudy Can't Fail" by The Clash
If De Blasio was hoping to tap into some New York City cred with a punk song, he could have at least chosen an actual New York City band. Unlike Rudy, Bill seems guaranteed to fail.
Kirstin Gillibrand - "Good as Hell" by Lizzo
Lizzo is currently having a moment and Gillibrand herself had a moment back in January when she was the first woman to officially announce her 2020 run. But while Lizzo's momentum seems poised to turn into lasting relevance, Gillibrand has fallen back into the crowd. Lizzo's feel-good feminism and empowerment pop lands on just the right side of refreshing and effective, but this use of "Good as Hell" tips into pandering territory.
Kamala Harris - "Work That" by Mary J. Blige
Harris, who has been criticized by progressives for her prosecutorial record in California can't change the past, but "Work That" speaks to her current strategy: drawing positive attention by doing what she does best and tearing it up on the Judiciary Committee.
Amy Klobuchar - "Bullpen" by Dessa
A surprisingly savvy choice. Minneapolis rapper Dessa may be best known for her appearance on the Hamilton mixtape, but she's a hometown hero in Minnesota and beloved by public radio. Dessa raps big game in a male-dominated field and Klobuchar obviously hopes to emulate some of that bravada.
Beto O'Rourke - "Clampdown" by The Clash
In case you forgot that Beto was Cool and Likable, magazine covers across the nation have your back. And if that's not enough, this song choice mildly telegraphs the message, I suppose.
Bernie Sanders - "Power to the People" by John Lennon
Sanders' 2016 campaign ad "America" utilized the Simon & Garfunkel song of the same name, with the lyric "they've all come to look for America" quietly nodding to his open-armed stance on immigration. Sanders returns to the same civil rights era with this pick, re-emphasizing the democratic socialist rhetoric that nearly won him the nomination last time around.
Elizabeth Warren - "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton
A seminal song from the '70s celebrating working women, Warren re-ups her feminist credentials and tries to bridge the gap between old school and new school activists fighting for women's rights. "Want to move ahead/But the boss won't seem to let me/I swear sometimes that man is out to get me." Sound familiar 40 years later?
Andrew Yang - "Return of the Mack" by Mark Morrison
I completely forgot about this song, just like I often forget that Yang is running for president.
Tulsi Gabbard - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell; John Hickenlooper - "Good Life" by OneRepublic; Tim Ryan - "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X
Unoriginal, tired, and trying way too hard, respectively.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Is Daylight Saving Time good for the climate?
Under the Radar Scientists are split over the potential environmental benefits of the hotly contested time change
By Abby Wilson Published
-
Life in the post-truth era
Opinion The mainstream media can't hold back a tsunami of misinformation
By Theunis Bates Published
-
Magazine printables - November 8, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 8, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published